Last updated: October 20, 2026, 4:45 PM CDT

Texas Fishing License & Regulations Guide (2026–27)

TPWD is the authority. This is a plain-English summary of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's (TPWD) rules for the license year that runs Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027. We checked every number below on TPWD's official pages on Oct 20, 2026. Rules and prices change, and many lakes have their own limits. Before you keep a fish, check the current TPWD Outdoor Annual or the free Outdoor Annual app. If anything here differs from TPWD, TPWD is right.

Who needs a Texas fishing license

Any Texas resident or non-resident who fishes in the public waters of Texas needs a fishing license, plus a freshwater and/or saltwater endorsement for the water they fish. The packages below bundle the license and endorsement together.

Exemptions

Under 17: residents and non-residents under 17 years of age don't need a license.
Born before January 1, 1931: Texas residents born before that date don't need a license. Residents 65 or older born on or after that date do need one, at the reduced senior price.
Neighboring-state seniors: Louisiana residents 65 or older with a valid Louisiana recreational fishing license, and Oklahoma residents 65 or older, don't need a Texas non-resident license.
Intellectual disability: residents fishing as part of medically approved therapy, or under the direct supervision of a licensed family member or family-approved angler, with the documentation TPWD describes.
Free Fishing Day: on the first Saturday in June each year, anyone can fish recreationally without a license or endorsement. The next one is Saturday, June 5, 2027.
State parks: no license or endorsement is needed to fish on state park property or in waters completely enclosed by a state park (park entry fees still apply; on piers and other structures it's pole-and-line only, two poles per person).
Private property: no license is needed on waters completely enclosed within private property.

Bag and length limits still apply when you don't need a license. Exempt anglers who want to keep an over-28-inch red drum or spotted seatrout can buy an Exempt Angler Red Drum Tag or Exempt Angler Spotted Seatrout Tag ($3 each).

Sources: TPWD: Fishing Licenses and Packages; TPWD: Free Fishing Opportunities; TPWD: License FAQs; TPWD: Fishing Endorsements, Tags & Permits.

License types and prices

Most packages are valid from the date of sale through August 31. New-year licenses go on sale August 15. Resident means you've lived continuously in Texas for more than six months before buying (TPWD lists other qualifying cases, such as active-duty military).

Package	Resident	Senior resident (65+)	Non-resident
Freshwater package	$30	$12	$58
Saltwater package (includes red drum & spotted seatrout tags)	$35	$17	$63
All-water package (fresh + salt)	$40	$22	$68
Year-from-Purchase All-Water package	$47	—	— (resident only)
One-Day All-Water license	$11	—	$16

Year-from-Purchase All-Water (residents only): the license plus freshwater and saltwater endorsements, with a red drum and spotted seatrout tag. It's valid from the date of purchase through the end of the purchase month of the next license year, so it doesn't expire on Aug. 31.
One-Day All-Water: valid for the day (or consecutive days) you buy. No endorsements needed. You can get one red drum tag and one spotted seatrout tag at no extra charge (limit one per customer).
Seniors: Texas residents 65 or older born on or after Jan. 1, 1931 buy the senior packages above.
Youth: under 17 needs no fishing license (see exemptions).
Endorsements on their own (if you already hold a fishing license): freshwater $5, saltwater $10.
Lake Texoma: a $12 Lake Texoma license covers both the Texas and Oklahoma waters of Texoma only.

Prices as listed by TPWD on Oct 20, 2026, before the $5 online administrative fee. Source: TPWD: Fishing Licenses and Packages; TPWD: Fishing Endorsements, Tags & Permits; TPWD: License FAQs; TPWD: License Purchase Requirements.

Where to buy a Texas fishing license

Online: on TPWD's official sales site, Texas License Connection (txfgsales.com). There's a $5 administrative fee per online transaction. Digital licenses can only be bought online, and can be used right away when synced with the Texas Hunt & Fish app.
At a retailer: about 1,700 locations across Texas sell licenses, including sporting goods stores, bait and tackle shops, department and grocery stores. Use TPWD's Find a Retailer search. Licenses are also sold at TPWD offices and Texas State Parks.
By phone: TPWD's purchase page lists online, retail and TPWD-office sales; it doesn't list a phone sales option. For license questions, TPWD Headquarters is at (800) 792-1112 or (512) 389-4800, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central.

New for 2026–27: effective August 3, 2026, everyone 17 and over must be physically present and show valid ID to get a recreational license. If you buy online, each license holder's ID must be validated. Licenses aren't refundable.

Sources: TPWD: Official Online Fishing & Hunting License Sales; TPWD: License Purchase Requirements.

Key freshwater limits (statewide)

These are TPWD's statewide defaults. Many lakes have special limits (slot limits, different minimum lengths or bag limits), and those override the statewide rule. Always check your lake.

Species	Daily bag	Minimum length
Largemouth & smallmouth bass	5 in any combination of largemouth, smallmouth, Alabama, Guadalupe and spotted bass	14 inches
Spotted, Guadalupe & Alabama bass		None
Crappie (white, black & hybrids)	25 in any combination	10 inches
Channel & blue catfish (and hybrids)	25 in any combination; only 10 can be 20 inches or longer	No limit
Flathead catfish	5	18 inches

The possession limit is twice the statewide daily bag limit (TPWD lists a few exceptions). Saltwater limits apply to saltwater species caught in brackish or fresh water.

Source: TPWD: Freshwater Bag and Length Limits (valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027).

Key saltwater limits

Species	Daily bag	Length	Notes
Red drum (redfish)	3	20–28 inches (slot)	One over 28" per license year with a Red Drum Tag, plus one more with a Bonus Red Drum Tag.
Spotted seatrout	3	15–20 inches	One over 28" per license year with a Spotted Seatrout Tag, plus one more with a Bonus Spotted Seatrout Tag. Possession limit is double the daily bag.
Flounder (all species)	5	15 inches minimum, no maximum	Closed Nov. 1 – Dec. 14 (bag limit 0). Possession limit equals the daily bag.

A Texas fishing license with a saltwater endorsement is required to land fish caught in state or federal waters. Unless noted, the saltwater possession limit is double the daily bag.

Sources: TPWD: Drum Bag & Length Limits; TPWD: Seatrout Bag & Length Limits; TPWD: Flounder Bag & Length Limits (all valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027). Other species: TPWD: Saltwater Bag & Length Limits by Species.

The red drum tag

A Red Drum Tag lets you keep one red drum longer than 28 inches per license year. It comes free with a saltwater endorsement or any package that includes one (and with the One-Day All-Water license).
A Bonus Red Drum Tag ($3, one per angler per license year) lets you keep one more over-28-inch red drum.
A tagged fish can be kept in addition to your daily bag and possession limit.
Printed licenses: as soon as you keep the fish, remove the whole tag from your license, fill in every space on the front, cut out the day and month, and attach it with string or wire to the narrowest part of the tail, just ahead of the tail fin.
Digital tags: report the fish in the Texas Hunt & Fish app or online app instead of attaching a tag.

Sources: TPWD: Drum Bag & Length Limits; TPWD: Fishing Endorsements, Tags & Permits; TPWD: Tagging Red Drum & Spotted Seatrout; TPWD: Digital Licenses and Tagging.

How to check the rules for a specific lake

Open TPWD's Exceptions to Statewide Freshwater Harvest Regulations list.
Find your lake by name and open it to see its special limits and gear rules. TPWD also lists health consumption advisories there.
If your lake isn't on that list, TPWD's statewide limits apply.
On the water, the free Outdoor Annual app has the same rules and works as proof of license for activities that don't need tags.

Lakes we cover that have special rules on TPWD's list (each link opens TPWD's page for that lake):

Each of our lake pages links to TPWD's rules for that lake. For the coast, see our Texas bay pages.

Source: TPWD: Exceptions to Freshwater Harvest Regulations (valid Sep. 1, 2026 through Aug. 31, 2027; list checked Oct 20, 2026).

Frequently asked questions

Do kids need a fishing license in Texas?

No. Residents and non-residents under 17 years of age don't need a Texas fishing license. Bag and length limits still apply.

Do seniors need a fishing license in Texas?

Texas residents born before January 1, 1931 are exempt. Residents 65 or older born on or after that date need a license, but can buy the senior freshwater ($12), saltwater ($17) or all-water ($22) package.

How much is a Texas fishing license?

For the 2026-27 license year, TPWD lists the resident freshwater package at $30, saltwater package at $35 and all-water package at $40. Non-resident packages are $58, $63 and $68. A $5 administrative fee applies to online purchases.

When is Free Fishing Day in Texas?

The first Saturday in June each year, when anyone can fish recreationally in Texas without a license or endorsement. The next one is Saturday, June 5, 2027.

When is flounder season closed in Texas?

Flounder fishing is closed from November 1 through December 14 (bag limit zero). The rest of the year the daily bag is 5 flounder with a 15-inch minimum length.

How do I keep a redfish over 28 inches in Texas?

Use your Red Drum Tag, which comes with the saltwater endorsement. It allows one red drum over 28 inches per license year, and a $3 Bonus Red Drum Tag allows one more. Fill in and attach the tag to the tail right away, or report it in the Texas Hunt & Fish app if you have a digital tag.